Our central heating system is a lot like hygiene – as long as it’s in good shape, we don’t really pay attention to it, but as soon as a problem arises, it becomes a real nuisance. No matter how organized our lives are, a broken boiler with a lack of heating and hot water can leave us in chaos and very often in misery. Although a damaged boiler can be a real inconvenience in the summer, most breakdowns occur in early winter. Boilers are shut down for several months, and when it gets colder, they’re forced back to life and can lead to costly and inconvenient problems.
While some common boiler problems can be addressed without the need to call in a heating technician, others will require a qualified and experienced professional’s services. It is always best to seek professional help from a trusted technician like Beato Fuel Corp when in doubt.
Why Is Good Boiler Maintenance Necessary?
One of the most critical aspects of the correct operation of heating installations and, precisely, of boilers, is their maintenance. Where not only the boiler should be checked, but also the heating circuit. There are many users to whom it seems a superfluous expense. Still, it is vital to avoid emissions of undesirable gases into the atmosphere to maintain energy efficiency. In this way, we also guarantee the safety of our homes and members of the same. The comfort point can be interesting, taking into account that incorrect operation, in addition to increasing consumption, does not generate the same heat.
What Are the Consequences of Inefficient Maintenance?
When a boiler has not adequately cared for maintenance, it can present a series of problems that can directly affect its monthly consumption and efficiency. The probability of emission of gases dangerous to health can occur. Boilers need preventive maintenance and annual control, which allows us to extend the useful life of the system and have a 100% working system at home. If we ignore maintenance, problems will likely arise in the boiler’s operation, resulting in breakdowns. Here we explain the most frequent:
1). If the heating system has sudden blackouts and its temperature rises very quickly, then the failure may be due to a wiring problem or a sensor blocking the recirculation pump. That’s a severe problem with the boiler, but surely your technician perfectly knows how to unlock the pump.
2). Another of the breakdowns that are usually more serious is the obstruction of the smoke outlet. In general, an error appears in some of the boiler indicators, and later it locks up. This implies that the carbon monoxide is not evacuated through the outlet duct, and, for safety, the boiler itself locks itself. In this case, we should contact a boiler repair technical service.
3). Sometimes, the boiler’s flame usually does not ignite, and in this case, the fuel suction filters are indeed dirty. The solution is simple; however, it must be a technician who performs the heating system’s inspection.
4). Pressure drops can be extremely irritating and gradually show up with time. It means that the hot water and heating heat disappear. It is not due to a fault; it responds instead to a small mismatch to solve yourself. For everything to work correctly again, fill the circuit with the pressure recommended by your boiler manufacturer.
5). Possible failures in the DHW and heating temperature probe are a frequent problem in boilers. It is easy to notice since the boilers lose hot water from the system, the boiler sparks (and depending on the model) does not ignite. So no ACS comes out, and in heating, it happens exactly the same. In this case, the solution is not entirely straightforward, and a specialized technician will have to come to fix it.
6). If you have an atmospheric boiler installation at home and you get to smell gas frequently, it could be due to a boiler failure. Avoid using it and plugging in any other appliance near the boiler to avoid any spark or flame. The first thing you should do is open the windows, so there is a draft and call a professional as soon as possible who can check and fix the problem.
7). Another of the most frequent problems with the boiler is found again in its pump. If you hear a rubbing noise, don’t panic! Of course, the safest thing is that a part of the said pump will have to be replaced.
How to Do Preventive Maintenance on Boilers?
DAILY
- Verify the water level and combustion.
- Drain: bottom, level, and surface:
- Feedwater pressure/temperature
- Combustion gas temperature
- Fuel oil pressure and temperature
- Gas pressure
- Atomizing air pressure
- Supply and return water temperatures
- Replacement water consumption
- Vapor pressure
WEEKLY:
- Check:
- Adequate fuel valve closure
- Air and fuel connections
- Indicator lights and alarm
- Limiting and operating controls
- Security controls and connections
- Leaks, noise, vibrations, abnormal conditions, etc.
SEMESTRALLY
- Refractory inspections
- Check the electrical components
- Clean:
- Low water level tap
- Oil pump, strainer, and filter
- Air cleaner and air/oil separator
- Compressor (fan) coupling alignment
ANNUALLY
- Inspect the inner surface of the container
- Clean:
- Chimney sweep of fire pipes
- Inspection of the water chamber
If we follow these steps, we guarantee the correct operation of our boiler. At the same time, we will achieve efficient energy consumption, which is reflected in savings in our bills and security for household members.